Combination tongue and box buckle



Ndv. 13, 1951 w, EwANYK 2,574,695

COMB INATION TONGUE AND BOX BUCKLE 7 Filed May 25, 1949 INVENTOR: mLL/AM Err/140w,

Patented Nov. 13, 951

COMBINATION TjoNeUEnm) BOX BUCKLE l -William Ewan'yk, Nbmmaoonn. ApplicaticnMay"25, 1942i; seriarno; 95,200-

- This-invention relates to buckles for belts and the like.

-As' itis well-known inthis-art, there are two types of belt buckles now 'in'use,-one being the so-calle'dtongue bucklewherein a tongue pivoted in a frame'ispushed through a hole in the belt and that-way the belt is secured, as will be obvious. The other type is the so-called box buckle in which --the belt is pulledthrough a. box-like structure open-*at' both-ends and secured therein in any su-itable mannen-the exposed front or top of the box being adapted to be used for ornaments, initials, and the like. The drawback of this second type of buckle is that the belt is never reliably-securedpwhile the drawback of the tongue type: buckle: otherwisereliably secured, is thatit is,- unsightly.

Themain object of "my inventionis to-provide a beltabuckle. which-will combine the advantages of both types, whereby the belt will be' reliably secured by a tongue, but, at thesame time, the buckle will have the appearance of aebox buckle, having-acover or top thereon, with ornaments, initials, or the like, displayedon it; -With my inventionthe belt will be absolutelysecured by a"tongue,--but at the same time, it will have the ornamental aesthetic appearance of a box buckle.

..Another object of my invention is to provide a device of thexmentionedcharacter which .may be opened in a comparatively easy manner, ex-' erting only-a reasonable forceon its cover.

- Still. a further objectxof this inventionis to provide abelt buckle of the character indicated wherein the usual frameand tongue will be, employed, but .a box buckle imitation top or cover will be pivoted at one side ofsaid frame whereby thebelt. will be'ad'apted. to be locked in its adjustedu position by the tongue, and thepressure of the tongue, and of the belt. itself, on, said pivotedcover will keep the same'in a yieldingly locked position. I

I JStill another. object of this invention is to pro vide' a .device as characterized hereinbefore, wherein the ornamental boxcover may be opened comparatively easily against said pressure by turning. the same, whereupon the belt-may be u'nhookedi from the. tongue as usual.

Still further objectsof this invention will'be apparent as the specification of the same proceeds orrwill be pointedout therein, and, among others,.I may mention: to provide a deviceof. the many advantages indicated, which still will be simple; in construction,,inexpensive to manufacture, ,aesthetic in appearance, and-.eflicienta and reliable-in,cperationandzuse.

7 2 In the drawings forming apart of my invention and accompanying the same:

Fig-I 1 is a fragmentary front viewof'am'an wearing the'belt embodying my invention; -Fig'. 2 is a perspective 'view of the preferred embodim'ent'of my novel combinationbelt buckle, portions of the same being broken away-*"for clearer view; Fig; 3 is asectional view of my device showing the free end of the belt by which the same is adjusted and looked through said buckle; 'Fig.-4= 'is another sectional View showing my device applied to a belt in adjusted'and" closed position, and

"Fig.- "5' is a fragmentary view-"showing' a pivoted cover ofm'y "device and the end of ai framerecelv ingthe-same. h

"Referring now tothe drawings more in detail by characters of reference, my'novel' combination tongue andbox belt buckle I0, is composed of two main elements, a frame member II and a cover 12 pivoted thereon, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The frame member 'll is formed of-twosides [3' and 14, a belt receiving end-member l5, and an opposite end member generallyindicated by the numeral l6, and inthe embodiment shown being composed of two pins l! and Is on which the cover I2 is pivoted.

tongue,- generally indicated by the numeral l 9, is'pivoted atabout the center of the end member l'5 and a stationary end 20 of the belt 2| is securedon saidend member, as it is well known in this art, permitting a swinging motion of the tongue [9, which, if desired, may be pivoted on a special pin portion of the end member I5.

" The cover member I2 is in'the' form of a plate appropriately curved, if desired, to follow I a similar curvature in the frame member and generally the body of the wearer, and at its inner end it has a sleeve 22 formed thereof. Said sleeve has aicentra-l portion 23 preferably not entirely closed, having an inner free edge 24' n01'mallyunderneath the cover plate l2 and concealed by it'when thebuckle'is closed; It will be obvious that said-sleeve, and the plate cover l 2 of'which it is formed'may swing on the pins l1 and I8. The tongue 1 9 may'also be approp'riately curved as- -shown'in the drawings, andwill have a' hookshapedouter or free end 21. Belt 2 I on-w'hi'chm'y buckle is employed will have a free adjustable end, generally indicated by the numera1 28, provided withrthe usual spaced apart holes 29.

The operationzand 1 use of my 1 deviee will be' a's follows: :Whenethe wearer desires :toiadjust :the

belt, the free end 28 thereof will be pulled through the frame underneath the sleeve portion 23 until a desired hole 29 will be within the frame, whereupon the tongue I9 will be passed therethrough, as it is usual with tongue buckles. The free end 28 of the belt then will be placed smoothly over the frame member H of the buckle and the secured other end of the belt 2 I, as also is usual and will be understood.

The tightening of the belt and securing the same by the tongue l9, however, will press the tongue inwardly on its pivot on the end frame member [5, as indicated by the arrow 30, by the stress in the belt and will press said tongue strongly in the direction of arrow 30, and will cause its hooked end 21 to engage the inner edge 24 of the sleeve portion 23, thereby causing the cover plate l2 to close upon the frame and tongue, as has been indicated hereinbefore, therebyconcealing said construction and giving my buckle the appearance of an ornamental box buckle.

As will be understood, such an action may be aided by the wearer himself by simply pressing the plate downwardly over the frame.

In the preferred embodiment, shown in the drawings, the hooked end 21 of the tongue in such a position of the cover plate I2, will engage the free inner edge 24 of the sleeve portion 23 and thereby keep said plate locked in its closed position.

I provide an additional locking and securing means for the closed position of cover l2, and for this purpose, an appropriate portion 3| of the sleeve 22 will be made flat.

Now, when the belt is adjusted, tightened, and secured in its tight position by the tongue l9, as has been described hereinbefore, and the cover plate [2 closed upon the buckle through such action, the tightness of the belt will exert an outward pressure on the fiat portion 3| of the sleeve 22, as indicated by arrow 32, and, obviously, this pressure will also tend to keep the cover I2 in its closed position.

When it is desired to open the buckle, first the cover l2 will be pulled outwardly into an open position, which the wearer can easily do by exerting a comparatively small pulling force thereon. The forces exerted by the belt on the tongue 19 and on the fiat portion 3! of the sleeve 22, will allow such a movement, after which the buckle may be opened like any other tongue buckle by pulling the free end 28 of the belt oil of the tongue l9.

, What I claim as new and want to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a belt buckle, the combination of a frame with two end members, one end member being adapted to have a stationary end of the belt secured thereon, the other free end of the belt to be passed underneath the opposite end member, said buckle also having a tongue pivoted on said first end member and adapted to be passed through a selected hole in said free end of the belt to adjustably secure the same, and a cover having a sleeve whereby it is pivoted on said second end member, the inner surface of said sleeve being flattened and a portion of said belt under said sleeve exerting an outward pressure on said fiat surface sleeve the fiatouter surface of it being adapted to be outwardly pressed by the portion when the tongue is engaged by said free belt end and the belt is tightened, the belt thereby holding said cover in a position closed over said frame and said tongue. 1i 2. Ina belt buckle, a frame having two sides 4 and a cross bar at one end registering spaced apart pins projecting inwardly and opposingly from the other ends of the respective sides of the frame, a tongue pivoted on said cross bar, a sleeve pivoted on said pins, and a cover for the device carried by said sleeve, said sleeve having an open portion between said two pins and the end of said tongue being adapted to engage and press on the lower edge of said. open part of the sleeve, said tongue being shorter than the distance between said cross bar and said pins whereby its end will not engage any other parts of the sleeve but said free edge, said tongue being adapted to keep said cover in a position closed over said frame when the buckle is closed on a belt and the tongue isengaged by the free end v portion thereof.

3. In a belt buckle, the combination of a frame with two end members, one end member being adapted to have a stationary end of the belt secured thereon, the other, free, end of the belt to be passed underneath the opposite end member, said buckle also having a tongue pivoted on said first end member and adapted to be passed through a selected hole in said free end of the belt to adjustably secure the same, and a cover having a sleeve whereby it is pivoted on said second end member, an open portion for said sleeve with a free edge underneath said cover, the outer free end of said tongue being adapted to press on the edge of said open sleeve portion when the tongue is engaged by said free belt end and thereby hold said cover in a position closed over said frame and said tongue, said free end of the tongue, however, not being long enough to reach any portion of said second member and to press thereon, the body of said tongue being concave to aid the pulling force of the belt thereon towards closing the free buckle end on said sleeve, said free end being inwardly curved to a hook to better engage the free edge in said sleeve.

4. In a belt buckle, the combination of a frame with two end members, one end member being adapted to have a stationary end of the belt secured thereon, the other, free end of the belt to be passed underneath the opposite end member, said buckle also having a tongue pivoted on said first end member and adapted to be passed through a selected hole in said free end of the belt to adjustably secure the same. and a cover having a sleeve whereby it is pivoted on said second end member, an open portion for said sleeve with a free edge underneath said cover. the outer free end of said tongue being adapted to press on the edge of said open sleeve portion when the tongue is engaged by said free belt end and thereby hold said cover in a position closed over said frame and said tongue, said free end of the tongue, however, not being long enough to reach any portion of said second member and to press thereon, the inner surface of said sleeve being flattened and a, portion of said belt under said sleeve exerting an outward pressure on said flat surface when the tongue is engaged by said free belt end and the belt tightened, thereby additionally holding said cover in a position closed over said frame and said tongue.

5. In a belt buckle, the combination of a frame with two end members, one end member being adapted to have a stationary end of the belt secured thereon, said belt having a second free end adapted to be passed underneath the opposite end member, said buckle also having a tongue pivoted on said first end member and adapted to be passed through a selected hole in said free end of the belt to adjustably secure the same, and a. cover having a sleeve whereby it is pivoted on said second end member, said sleeve having a central portion provided with a free edge, the free end of said tongue being adapted to be pressed on said free edge of said sleeve when the belt is tightened thereby exerting a force on the same designed to keep said cover in a closed position, the inner surface of said sleeve being flattened and a portion of said belt under said sleeve exerting an outward pressure on said flat surface, when the tongue is engaged by said free belt end and the belt is tightened, and the belt thereby holding said cover in a position closed over said frame and said tongue.

6. In a belt buckle, the combination of a frame with two end members, one end member being adapted to have a stationary end of the belt secured thereon, said belt having a second free end adapted to be passed underneath the opposite end member, said buckle also having a tongue pivoted on said first end member and adapted to be passed through a selected hole in said free end of the belt to adjustably secure the same, and a cover having a sleeve whereby it is pivoted on said second end member, said sleeve having a central portion provided with a free edge, the free end of said tongue being adapted to be pressed on said free edge of said sleeve when the belt is tightened thereby exerting a force on the same, designed to keep said cover in a closed position, the body of said tongue being concave to aid the pulling force on the belt thereon towards closing the free tongue end on said sleeve, said free tongue end being inwardly curved to a hook to better engage said sleeve.

7. In a belt buckle, the combination of a frame with two end members, one, the first, end meniher being adapted to have a stationary end of the belt secured thereon, the other, free, end of the belt to be passed underneath the said second end member, said buckle also having a tongue pivoted on said first end member and adapted to be passed through a selected hole in said free end of the belt to adjustably secure the same, and a cover having a sleeve whereby it is pivoted on said second end member, an open portion for said sleeve with a free edge underneath said cover, the outer free end of said tongue being adapted to press on the edge of said open sleeve portion when the tongue is engaged by said free belt end and thereby hold said cover in a position closed over said frame and said tongue, said free end of the tongue, however, not being long enough to reach any portion of said second end member and to press thereon.

WILLIAM EWANYK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 248,258 Freeman Oct. 11, 1881 321,175 Basinger June 30, 1885 581,438 Smith Apr. 27, 1897 855,459 I-Iufiman June 4, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 48,806 Norway Dec. 29, 1930 576,480 Germany May 11, 1933 

